I have recently watched the BBC documentary after it was recommend to me whilst on a facetime call with my mum (who was oblivious of the Hipster world we live in). The Hipster Handbook is presented by Peter York who seeks to understand what he sees as the modern obsession with ‘The Authentic’. He speaks to crafts people and expert commentators on his journey to understand the current cultural moment. He also examines where the label of the ‘hipster’ has its roots and whether it is too general a term for such a broad movement. He demonstrates through his years of marketing and advertising experience that subcultures have always been absorbed and repackaged by the mainstream.
One interesting observation York made was the mask that the hipster persona creates, explaining that the hipster beards, lumberjack shirts and tattoos are an attempt to fill the masculinity gap in the 21st century world of men sitting behind a computer screen. This peek inside the world of hipsters shows just how cultivated the sub culture is.
Style & Substance 